Crawley Town V Preston at Broadfield Stadium : Match Preview

28 January 2013 05:01

Crawley boss Richie Barker could hand a host of players their debuts when Preston visit the Broadfield.

Full-back Mustapha Dumbaya has signed on a free transfer after leaving Portsmouth and centre-half Connor Essam joined from Gillingham.

Barker moved for the defensive duo after letting Claude Davis leave for Rotherham and with Kyle McFadzean still sidelined as he recovers from a virus.

Barker has also signed Jamie Proctor from Swansea and fellow striker Jimmy Spencer on loan from Huddersfield, although the latter has been carrying a knee injury.

Former Brighton midfielder Matt Sparrow could make his full debut after coming on as a substitute at Tranmere last time out.

There will be further changes on the bench after defender Shaun Cooper joined Portsmouth and back-up goalkeeper Michel Kuipers left the club.

Rookie defender Ben Davies is expected to retain his place in the Preston starting line-up.

Davies was one of two debutants in the full-back positions, along with on-loan Leeds right-back Paul Connelly, as North End set an unwanted club record of 10 home league games without victory in a battling 2-2 draw against Coventry at the weekend.

John Welsh could come back into the reckoning after shaking off a knock and would displace either Joel Byrom or Jack King in central midfield after Nicky Wroe was selected on the right flank to face the Sky Blues.

Graham Cummins made the most of a rare league start in attack by netting the opening goal and will be hopeful of holding off the challenges of benched duo Joe Garner and Stuart Beavon, with Jeffrey Monakana possibly more likely to make way.